Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
	May 01, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt and finance leases outstanding due within a year		$ 372,246	$ 340,867
Increase in long-term debt and finance leases outstanding due within a year		31,400
CLECO POWER
Debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt and finance leases outstanding due within a year		240,271	$ 110,344
Increase in long-term debt and finance leases outstanding due within a year		129,900
Cleco Holdings' Senior Notes Due 2025
Debt [Line Items]
Debt, face amount	$ 165,000
Cleco Holdings' Senior Notes Due 2025 | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR)
Debt [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.725%
Cleco Power Debt, Bank Term Loan Due May 2024 | Reclassification, Debt Instruments
Debt [Line Items]
Increase in long-term debt and finance leases outstanding due within a year		125,000
Cleco Power Debt, Bank Term Loan Due May 2024 | Reclassification, Debt Instruments | CLECO POWER
Debt [Line Items]
Increase in long-term debt and finance leases outstanding due within a year		125,000
Cleco Holdings Debt, Bank Term Loan Due May 2024 | Reclassification, Debt Instruments
Debt [Line Items]
Increase in long-term debt and finance leases outstanding due within a year		66,700
Cleco Securitization I, Storm Recovery Bonds
Debt [Line Items]
Increase in long-term debt and finance leases outstanding due within a year		4,900
Cleco Securitization I, Storm Recovery Bonds | CLECO POWER
Debt [Line Items]
Increase in long-term debt and finance leases outstanding due within a year		4,900
Cleco Holdings Senior Notes Due 2023 | Reclassification, Debt Instruments
Debt [Line Items]
Increase in long-term debt and finance leases outstanding due within a year		$ (165,000)